1 September 2025
File Ref: IRC-8845
Chris McCashin
[FYI request #28957 email]
Tēnā koe Mr McCashin
Thank you for your email dated 4 August 2025 to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City
Council (the Council) requesting the following information:
• Provide an update of this OIA (IRC-7387 & IRC-7532).
Your request has been considered under the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA).
The Council has been working on improving safety for Wellington’s Waterfront. On
13
February 2025 at the Long-term Plan Finance and Performance Committee, the Council
agreed to provision $11.1m for possible waterfront edge protection improvements in
2025/26. A paper was presented to elected members on
7 August 2025 at the Environment
and Infrastructure Committee for consideration and approval of edge protection on sections
of the Kumutoto and Queens Wharf waterfront precincts without community consultation,
which was not approved at the meeting.
The Council has engaged a range of consultants on the Waterfront Edge Protection project
since June 2023. The following summary outlines the total costs incurred to date for
professional services. This includes, but is not limited to, fees associated with designers,
planners, engineers, artists, and other specialist providers who have contributed to the
project over the past two years.
Costs associated to edge protection workstream
*Previous Information **Additional
Speciality
supplied IRC-7387
costs since Total Cost
Costs incurred
IRC-7387
Landscape Architecture/Urban Design
$261,963
$247,079 $509,042
Structural Engineering
$17,995
$3,581
$21,576
Conservation Architect (Heritage Advice)
$2,138
$6,075
$8,213
Resource Consent Consulting
$855
$0
$855
Business Case Consulting
$42,830
$0
$42,830
Health and Safety / Risk Consulting
$63,102
$7,705
$70,807
Quantity Surveying
$6,555
$22,280
$28,835
Balustrade samples
$0
$11,648
$11,648
TOTAL
$395,438
$298,368
$693,806
Costs associated with edge protection workstream and other safety enhancement
workstreams (lighting)
*Previous Information **Additional
Speciality
Total Cost
supplied IRC-7387
cost
Engagement with Mana Whenua and
Design
$24,060
$4,340
$28,400
Topographical Surveying
$68,014
$0
$68,014
TOTAL
$92,074
$4,340
$96,414
Costs of temporary fencing
*Previous Information **Additional
Speciality
Total Cost
supplied IRC-7387
cost
Temporary Fence Hire
$24,381
$34,849
$59,230
Note for all tables:
• All data is current as of 5 August 2025.
• *Previous information supplied under IRC-7387 dated 21 November 2024 covered
the period from June 2023 – October 2024.
• **Additional costs supplied under this response covered the period November 2024
– August 2025.
• Costs exclude GST.
More detail on what makes up these costs includes:
• Detailed data collection and mapping of the Waterfront public space, including wharf
edges, existing balustrades, handrails, seating and furniture, rescue ladders and life
rings, bollards, lighting, security and CCTV, and water access for commercial
operation and recreational use.
• Reviews of previous Waterfront Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
(CPTED) safety reports.
• Development of a specialist Edge Assessment and Risk Assessment tool to provide
risk scores and classification for Waterfront edges.
• Development of Concept Designs for balustrade edge protection solutions, including
development of balustrade design long lists and short lists for internal and external
review.
• Development of Concept Designs for a range of alternative second chance edge
protection solutions independent of balustrades. This included options for several
Waterfront locations.
• Structural engineering input and review of Concept Designs to evaluate buildability,
alignment with Building Act, and cost estimates.
• Quantity Surveying of all designs to develop cost estimates.
• Preparation of Concept Design documentation to support engagement with cross
Council internal teams and specialist external consultants, including collaboration
with Mana Whenua design lead.
• Preparation of Concept Design documentation to support Resource Consent pre-
applications with Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wellington City Council.
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Pre application meetings have been undertaken with the design team to test
feasibility of the range of proposed edge intervention designs.
• Preparation of Concept Design documentation to support Building Consent pre-
applications with Wellington City Council. Pre application meetings have been
undertaken with the design team to test consenting and design requirements for the
range of proposed interventions under the Building Act.
• Design workshops with a wide range of specialists including structural engineers,
surveyors, heritage architects, lighting and electrical engineers, health and safety
consultants, and balustrade fabricators.
• Development and production of designs, plans and visual renders to support future
public engagement activities, Council presentations, and Council Briefings and
Committee meetings.
Additional information and updates on the project will be displayed on th
e project page and
let’s talk page. Please note, we may proactively release our response to your request with your personal
information removed.
You have the right, by way of complaint under section 27(3) of the LGOIMA, to request an
investigation and review of the Council’s decision by the Ombudsman. Information about
how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800
802 602.
If you require further information, please contac
t [Wellington City Council request email]. Nāku noa, nā
Asha Harry
Official Information & Privacy
Wellington City Council
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